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Me and my son are wanting to start playing 40k/30k. He has his eyes set on Tau, he seems to enjoy their play style (We have kill team). I am looking something that fits what I would like to do.

Personally I enjoy tough troops and heavy weapons. I also don't want a horde army as much as Astra Militarum appeal to me.
I also don't know how viable a army that is 99% Vehicles and Arty would be.


So I guess what I'm asking is what would a good army if I wanted to trod across the field (slow or fast) while being able to fire heavy weapons, with troops that aren't going to die by someone sneezing on them?

anastobe wrote:
I also don't know how viable a army that is 99% Vehicles and Arty would be.

Armored company player here: the answer is it's semi-viable. The main problem is it's a very binary army. Usually you either get wiped off the table by opponents with enough anti-tank (especially the blatantly overpowered 7th edition nonsense) to deal with the tanks, or you crush an opponent who can't handle that much AV 14. On the other hand, it certainly looks awesome on the table!

So you like hard to kill infantry and big guns. I would recommend Space Marines or CSM. Both armies also have a low model count due to high point values of their units. Therefore you should be able to paint them up in no time. Just choose a paint scheme of a published chapter or legion or invent your own brotherhood of psychotic futuristic soldiers.

Big Guns (Infantry):
Tactical and CSM squads can take a single heavy weapon. Devastator (SM) and Havoc (CSM) squads can take even four heavy weapons respectively. All squads are able to hitch a ride in a cheap Rhino. Chaos is also able to field Obliterators. These fiendish dudes are able to morph their heavy weapons to suit their needs. Do you want to exterminate lightly armoured infantry? Just morph yourself a heavy bolter and have fun.
SM also have access to a fairly new unit which functions like a russian Matryoshka doll. A SM in power armour climbs into another suit to gain even more power. I don´t like them at all because of their silly looks but they have a reputation of being really good on the battlefield.
Terminators and CSM Terminators have a 2+ saving throw. They can even equip up to two heavy weapons.

Big Guns (Walker):
Dreadnoughts & Hellbrutes can take one or two heavy weapons. The Chaos Defiler is equipped with a five inch blast weapon and is good in close combat. It is also a big impressive model and can therefore function as a centrepiece for your army.

Big Guns (Tanks):
Both factions have access to the Predator (3 heavy weapons) and the Vindicator ( five inch blast weapon). SM can also field an artillery tank (Whirlwind).

Tough Infantry:
Some units from both codices have the special rule Feel no pain which makes them hard as nails. SM use Apothecaries in their units to have the desired effect and CSM rely on Plague Marines.


I stopped playing 40K in 5th edition, so there might be nowadays ways to gain even more or better heavy weapons by choosing superior troop or vehicle units. Some psychic powers in 7th edition can significantly boost the survival rates of your troops or tanks (e.g.: Invisibility). This means you shouldn´t deny the witch. Just take a Librarian or Chaos Sorcerer along and you´ll be fine.

Thank you for the replies.

The other army that I seemed to be able to do it is Admech/Skitarii. or Mechanicum from 30k

I have fluff ideas for a guard tank army. A bunch of gangers (I have some left over from necromunda years ago) find a bunch of the tanks after a unit has been wiped out some how and steals them. If i go that route I would have to find extra tank bits to show them salvaging them, and bolting extra plating on them. Paint them in ways that they are rusted and look like they are falling apart.

Any suggestions on what I would need for a guard armored company? I know next to nothing about them.

anastobe wrote:
Any suggestions on what I would need for a guard armored company? I know next to nothing about them.

Tanks. Lots of tanks. A core of LRBTs, and then whatever artillery/Hellhounds/aircraft/etc you want to support them.

Space Marines or Chaos Marines aound more like what you want. Some tough as nails troops supported by armour. It'll also give you some variety in the models you use.

I'd say necrons. Easy to paint, slow, tough, shooty.

Necrons (in the Decurion formation) or Cult Mechanicus, or both using them as allies.

anastobe wrote:

So I guess what I'm asking is what would a good army if I wanted to trod across the field (slow or fast) while being able to fire heavy weapons, with troops that aren't going to die by someone sneezing on them?

Both Chaos and normal Space Marines have units that fit the bill (Terminators, Obliterators, Centurions) as do Necrons and even Thousand Sons. Really depends on what you feel like painting.

I'd avoid specialized armies like Imperial Knights or Armored Company for learning the game while playing against your son.